slot

¹

[slot]

noun

1. a narrow, elongated depression, groove, notch, slit, or aperture, especially a narrow opening for receiving or admitting something, as a coin or a letter.

2. a place or position, as in a sequence or series.

   The program received a new time slot on the broadcasting schedule.

3. Linguistics.,  (especially in tagmemics) a position having a specific grammatical function within a construction into which any one of a set of morphemes or morpheme sequences can be fit.

4. an assignment or job opening; position.

   I applied for the slot in management training.

5. Journalism.

   1. the interior opening in a copy desk, occupied by the chief copy editor.

   2. the job or position of chief copy editor.

      He had the slot at the Gazette for 20 years.

6. an allocated, scheduled time and place for an aircraft to take off or land, as authorized by an airport or air-traffic authority.

   40 more slots for the new airline at U.S. airports.

7. Informal.,  slot machine.

8. Aeronautics.,  slat12

9. Ornithology.,  a narrow notch or other similar opening between the tips of the primaries of certain birds, which during flight helps to maintain a smooth flow of air over the wings.

10. Ice Hockey.,  an unmarked area near the front of an opponent's goal that affords a vantage for an attacking player.

11. Computers.,  expansion slot.

verb (used with object)

slotted, slotting 

1. to provide with a slot or slots; make a slot in.

2. to place or fit into a slot.

   We've slotted his appointment for four o'clock.

verb (used without object)

slotted, slotting 

1. to fit or be placed in a slot.

slot

²

[slot]

noun

1. the track or trail of a deer or other animal, as shown by the marks of the feet.

2. a track, trace, or trail of something.

slot

¹

/ slɒt /

noun

1. an elongated aperture or groove, such as one in a vending machine for inserting a coin

2. an air passage in an aerofoil to direct air from the lower to the upper surface, esp the gap formed behind a slat

3. a vertical opening between the leech of a foresail and a mast or the luff of another sail through which air spills from one against the other to impart forward motion

4. informal,  a place in a series or scheme

verb

1. (tr) to furnish with a slot or slots

2. to fit or adjust in a slot

3. informal,  to situate or be situated in a series or scheme

slot

²

/ slɒt /

noun

1. the trail of an animal, esp a deer

Other Word Forms

• unslotted adjective
• slotter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of slot¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English: “hollow at the base of the throat above the breastbone,” from Old French esclot; further origin unclear

Origin of slot²

First recorded in 1565–75; from Anglo-French, Old French esclot “the hoofprint of a horse,” probably from Old Norse slōth “track, trail”; sleuthhound

Word History and Origins

Origin of slot¹

C13: from Old French esclot the depression of the breastbone, of unknown origin

Origin of slot²

C16: from Old French esclot horse's hoof-print, probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse sloth track; see _sleuth

Example Sentences

When the series was broadcast in an after-the-watershed slot, Reid says his players - and family members - tuned in.

From BBC

The most uncertain spot in the secondary has been in the slot, where Riley has yet to find a capable replacement for Brown.

From Los Angeles Times

The following day she cancelled her Sunday slot at the festival held at Forest Hills Stadium in Washington DC.

From BBC

Glen Powell, who co-created the series with Michael Waldron, stars as a disgraced football quarterback who disguises himself to get a slot on a college team.

From Los Angeles Times

Given how starved Mumbai's current airport is for capacity, analysts expect strong uptake for NMIA's parking slots from airlines looking to launch new routes.

From BBC

Related Words

• channel 
• groove 
• hole 
• niche 
• position 
• space 
• vacancy